Bill Summary
The Marine Energy Research and Development Act of 2019 is a bill that aims to amend the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to support research, development, and deployment of marine energy technologies in the United States. The purpose of this bill is to promote increased energy generation and capacity at reduced costs, improve environmental outcomes, provide grid stability, and create job opportunities in the energy sector. The bill defines marine energy as energy from waves, tides, currents, hydrokinetic water, and ocean temperature differentials. It also establishes a program to accelerate the introduction of marine energy production, provides grants for the establishment of National Marine Energy Centers, and authorizes funding for this program. Additionally, the bill requires a study to be conducted on the potential of marine energy technologies in the maritime transportation sector, energy infrastructure resilience, and scientific missions in extreme environments.
Possible Impacts
1. The Marine Energy Research and Development Act of 2019 could affect people by promoting job creation in the energy sector. This could create new job opportunities and potential career paths for individuals interested in renewable energy.
2. The Act could also impact the environment by promoting research and development activities that improve the environmental outcomes of marine energy technologies. This could potentially lead to a more sustainable and eco-friendly energy source.
3. The establishment of National Marine Energy Centers could benefit people by providing access to facilities for testing and demonstrating marine energy technologies. This could potentially lead to faster development and implementation of these technologies, providing more efficient and cost-effective energy options for consumers.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1821 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 261
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1821
[Report No. 116-141]
To amend the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to provide
for research on, and the development and deployment of, marine energy,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 12, 2019
Mr. Wyden (for himself, Mr. Merkley, Mr. King, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Reed,
and Ms. Hirono) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
October 23, 2019
Reported by Ms. Murkowski, with amendments
[Omit the part struck through and insert the part printed in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to provide
for research on, and the development and deployment of, marine energy,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Marine Energy Research and
Development Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act is to support marine energy programs that--
(1) promote research on, and the development of, increased
energy generation and capacity at reduced costs;
(2) promote research and development activities that
improve environmental outcomes of marine energy technologies;
(3) provide grid stability and create new market
opportunities; and
(4) promote job creation in the energy sector.
SEC. 3. DEFINITION OF MARINE ENERGY.
(a) In General.--Section 632 of the Energy Independence and
Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17211) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 632. DEFINITION OF MARINE ENERGY.
``In this subtitle, the term `marine energy' means energy from--
``(1) waves, tides, and currents in oceans, estuaries, and
tidal areas;
``(2) free-flowing hydrokinetic water in rivers, lakes, and
streams;
``(3) free-flowing hydrokinetic water in man-made channels;
and
``(4) differentials in ocean temperature or ocean thermal
energy conversion.''.
(b) Conforming Edits.--
(1) The subtitle heading for subtitle C of title VI of the
Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-
440; 121 Stat. 1686) is amended by striking ``and Hydrokinetic
Renewable''.
(2) Section 631 of the Energy Independence and Security Act
of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17001 note; 121 Stat. 1686) is amended by
striking ``and Hydrokinetic Renewable''.
SEC. 4. MARINE ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.
Section 633 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42
U.S.C. 17212) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 633. MARINE ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Director of
the Water Power Technologies Office, in consultation with the Secretary
of the Interior, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, shall carry out a program to accelerate the
introduction of marine energy production into the United States energy
supply, giving priority to technologies most likely to lead to
commercial utilization, while fostering accelerated research,
development, demonstration, and commercial application of technology,
including programs--
``(1) to assist technology development on a variety of
scales, including full-scale prototypes, to improve the
components, processes, and systems used for power generation
from marine energy resources;
``(2) to establish and expand critical testing
infrastructure and facilities necessary--
``(A) to cost-effectively and efficiently test and
prove marine energy devices; and
``(B) to accelerate the technological readiness and
commercialization of those devices;
``(3) to support efforts to increase the efficiency of
energy conversion, lower the cost, increase the use, improve
the reliability, and demonstrate the applicability of marine
energy technologies by participating in demonstration projects;
``(4) to investigate variability issues and the efficient
and reliable integration of marine energy with the utility
grid;
``(5) to identify and study critical short- and long-term
needs to create a sustainable marine energy supply chain based
in the United States;
``(6) to increase the reliability and survivability of
marine energy technologies;
``(7) to verify the performance, reliability,
maintainability, and cost of new marine energy device designs
and system components in an operating environment;
``(8) to consider the protection of critical
infrastructure, such as adequate separation between marine
energy devices and projects and submarine telecommunications
cables, including consideration of established industry
standards;
``(9)(A) to coordinate the programs carried out under this
section with, and avoid duplication of activities across,
programs of the Department and other applicable Federal
agencies, including National Laboratories; and
``(B) to coordinate public-private collaboration in
carrying out the programs under this section;
``(10) to identify opportunities for joint research and
development programs and the development of economies of scale
between--
``(A) marine energy technologies; and
``(B) other renewable energy and fossil energy
programs, offshore oil and gas production activities,
and activities of the Department of Defense;
``(11) to identify, in conjunction with the Secretary of
Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary of Commerce for
Oceans and Atmosphere, and other relevant Federal agencies as
appropriate, the potential environmental impacts, including
potential impacts on fisheries and other marine resources, of
marine energy technologies, measures to prevent adverse
impacts, and technologies and other means available for
monitoring and determining environmental impacts;
``(12) to identify, in conjunction with the Secretary of
the Department in which the United States Coast Guard is
operating, acting through the Commandant of the United States
Coast Guard, the potential navigational impacts of marine
energy technologies and measures to prevent adverse impacts on
navigation; and
``(13) to support in-water technology development with
international partners using existing cooperative procedures
(including memoranda of understanding)--
``(A) to allow cooperative funding and other
support of value to be exchanged and leveraged; and
``(B) to encourage international research centers
and international companies to participate in the
development of marine energy technology in the United
States and to encourage United States research centers
and companies to participate in marine energy projects
abroad. abroad; and
``(14) to assist in the development of technology necessary
to support the use of marine energy--
``(A) for the generation and storage of power at
sea, including in applications relating to--
``(i) ocean observation and navigation;
``(ii) underwater vehicle charging;
``(iii) marine aquaculture;
``(iv) production of marine algae; and
``(v) extraction of critical minerals and
gasses from seawater;
``(B) for the generation and storage of power to
promote the resilience of coastal communities,
including in applications relating to--
``(i) desalination;
``(ii) disaster recovery and resilience;
and
``(iii) community microgrids in isolated
power systems; and
``(C) in any other applications, as determined by
the Secretary.
``(b) Cost Sharing and Merit Review.--The Secretary shall carry out
the program under this section in accordance with sections 988 and 989
of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16352, 16353).''.
SEC. 5. NATIONAL MARINE ENERGY CENTERS.
Section 634 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42
U.S.C. 17213) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking ``renewable energy
research, development, and demonstration'' and inserting
``energy'';
(2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and
(3) by striking subsections (a) and (b) and inserting the
following:
``(a) Centers.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall award grants to
institutions of higher education for--
``(A) the continuation and expansion of research,
development, and testing activities at National Marine
Energy Centers established as of January 1, 2019; and
``(B) the establishment of new National Marine
Energy Centers.
``(2) Criteria.--In selecting locations for new National
Marine Energy Centers to be established under paragraph (1)(B),
the Secretary shall consider sites that meet one of the
following criteria:
``(A) The new Center hosts an existing marine
energy research and development program in coordination
with an engineering program at an institution of higher
education.
``(B) The new Center has proven expertise to
support environmental and policy-related issues
associated with the harnessing of energy in the marine
environment.
``(C) The new Center has access to and uses marine
resources.
``(b) Purposes.--The National Marine Energy Centers shall
coordinate with other National Marine Energy Centers, the Department,
and the National Laboratories--
``(1) to advance research, development, and demonstration
of marine energy technologies;
``(2) to support in-water testing and demonstration of
marine energy technologies, including facilities capable of
testing--
``(A) marine energy systems of various technology
readiness levels and scales;
``(B) a variety of technologies in multiple test
berths at a single location; and
``(C) arrays of technology devices; and
``(3) to serve as information clearinghouses for the marine
energy industry by collecting and disseminating information on
best practices in all areas relating to developing and managing
marine energy resources and energy systems.
``(c) Cost Sharing.--The Secretary shall carry out the program
under this section in accordance with section 988(b)(4) of the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16352(b)(4)).''.
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 636 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42
U.S.C. 17215) is amended by striking ``$50,000,000 for each of the
fiscal years 2008 through 2012'' and inserting ``$150,000,000
$160,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 and 2021''.
SEC. 7. STUDY OF ENERGY INNOVATION IN MARINE TRANSPORTATION AND
INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Energy, in consultation with the
Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of Commerce, shall
conduct a study to examine opportunities for research and development
in advanced marine energy technologies--
(1) to support the maritime transportation sector to
enhance job creation, economic development, and
competitiveness;
(2) to support associated maritime energy infrastructure,
including infrastructure that serves ports, to improve system
resilience and disaster recovery; and
(3) to enable scientific missions at sea and in extreme
environments, including the Arctic.
(b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall submit to the Committee on
Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report
that describes the results of the study conducted under subsection (a).
Calendar No. 261
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1821
[Report No. 116-141]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to provide
for research on, and the development and deployment of, marine energy,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
October 23, 2019
Reported with amendments